Arohan Financial

Arohan Financial Services Limited operates as a Non-Banking Financial Company-Microfinance Institution (NBFC-MFI) in India, with a focus on serving populations in low-income states. The company was founded in 2006 by Shubhankar Sengupta and Vineet Rai and is headquartered in Kolkata. In 2012, Arohan became part of the Aavishkaar Group, a global organization that takes an entrepreneurship-based approach to development, which marked a significant turning point for the company. This acquisition was carried out by IntelleCash, a subsidiary of Intellecap, which acquired a majority stake in Arohan.

Vineet Rai, also the founder of Aavishkaar Group, has a background in Forestry Management and extensive experience in social and venture investing. His journey began with a desire to assist Indians with limited access to financial services, a vision that has driven the growth of both Aavishkaar and Arohan. The company's business model is centered on providing financial services to low-income individuals and micro-enterprises. It generates revenue through interest and fees on its credit products and premiums from insurance offerings. The target clients are economically active individuals, primarily women, in underserved regions with an annual household income of INR 300,000 or less.

Arohan's product portfolio is diverse, encompassing both credit and insurance. Core credit products include 'Saral', a loan for women in low-income areas, and 'Bazaar', which provides working capital for small businesses. Loan amounts can range from ₹1,100 to ₹50,000, with tenures between 3 and 24 months. The company also offers MSME lending, with loans from ₹5 lakh to ₹1 crore, to POS-enabled merchants and online sellers. Additionally, Arohan provides supplementary products like solar, mobile, and sanitation loans. As a registered corporate agent with IRDAI, the company offers life and health insurance products, acting as a distributor for partner insurance companies.

Keywords: microfinance, financial inclusion, NBFC-MFI, low-income households, micro-loans, MSME lending, rural finance, impact investing, Aavishkaar Group, financial services India, women empowerment, small business loans, credit services, insurance products, Kolkata-based MFI, Saral loan, Bazaar loan, working capital finance, sustainable finance, emerging markets finance